EDITION OF WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2017 [PetPowellPress] --Here we go with Think Good Things Thursday. We may have to work hard at pulling off some good thoughts. Too many hurricanes. Too many animals in shelters. Too many people being mean to each other -- count the gunshots in Dallas, dear friends. But, we start with a cross-country chase of a bad guy with a good guy’s dog. We’ll get to that Earhound in Contemplations. MURDER VICTIM’S DOG ZEUS FOUNDWe posted the story of Zeus and his murdered master last month. On Wednesday we got an astounding note from our Houston tipster, Alexandra Kelsey, who’d first told us about this awful crime and its aftermath. She wrote, “From Kansas to California: that’s the journey Zeus took after his human was murdered. And it was through a California shelter that Zeus was found. “Never, ever doubt for a second the power of putting your oar in the water to help. What you do makes a difference. In this case, the difference was that a grieving family is getting their murdered son’s dog back home with them.” Matt Schoeshke was killed in his apartment in Kansas. Zeus vanished. And now he’s been found half-a-continent away from home. He’d been a shelter. His photo had been posted. Someone recognized him. He’d already been adopted. But, through some sort of grace, the connection with Kansas was made and Zeus will be coming home to Matt’s family. An arrest has been made in California in connection with the crime. Here’s Salina, Kansas, KSAL-TV story. And the “family side” of this story is on Facebook HERE.SHOT! NOT HIT BY BAT!Terry Lynn Fisher, our Burns Flat, Okla., tipster was upset Tuesday when she was called to help a little dog who reportedly had been bashed in the back by a bat. On Wednesday, her vet determined that the “little guy” had been shot, not beaten.

“His little spine is broken,” Terry Lynn told us. “He will probably never gain any movement in his back end. He is so sweet. Confused, but so full of love. His pain does not seem to be too bad. They are running tests to see how much pain he might be in.” Terry Lynn notes that she has a “wheelchair boy -- he is 3-legged and does great. So, we are going to try to see what we can do. But I have no place for him." The dog is in the care of Elk Creek Clinic, Terry Lynn’s “go to” vet. You can help her and the animals she encounters by donating to her bill at Elk Creek Clinic, 13-1 Airport Industrial, Elk City, Okla., 73644. (Call the clinic at 580-225-4863.) And you can get in touch with Terry Lynn at 580-330-1459 or by emailing her at remembering_oddball@yahoo.com.

Those of you who know Terry Lynn through our website know that the email address is a reference that honors the dog that inspired her to get involved in rescue. Oddball was shot to death by a city officer who called him over to his patrol car and the happy unsuspecting dog walked right into a bullet. So, as Terry Lynn said about this development. “Shot -- that is too close to home. I lost my precious Oddball to a gun-happy idiot. I hate the thought of losing this dog the same way.” HOLDING PATTERN ;HOPEFUL PATTERNRemember this dog from our previous edition? Mamma dog and six puppies at the Irving Animal Services shelter? Operation Kindness is likely to take them. Marta Anderson, the Intake and Transfer Coordinator at OK, sent a note Wednesday that informs, “We are in touch with Irving Animal Services in hopes of transferring the mom and her pups to Operation Kindness for care and adoption once their protective custody hold is released.” You may recall that Mamma and her pups were living under a trailer and the person who was caring for them was being evicted, so, basically, so were they. Humans are working to save them. Go to operationkindness.org to see how you can give a hand -- volunteer, donate, write a letter of support. Do something good to honor the animals.THINGS TO REMEMBER:--Fostering local animals will help open places for hurricane animals. Check with your local shelter or rescue group. Also, we’ve been tipped to AdoptaPet.com’s “foster a hurricane pet site HERE. Even when there hasn’t been a storm, North Texas organizations are always needing foster homes. What does fostering pay? Makes your heart feel grander. -- North Texas Giving Day is September 14. Not only are we getting tons of email reminding us to donate to our favorite groups -- and they’re almost ALL our favorite rescue groups -- but we’re getting U.S. mail, too. Our favorite postcard came from the city’s most dazzling group, the Dallas Tap Dazzlers. A shout out to the Dazzlingest Dazzler, founder Fran Dempsey. We’ve gotten email from Lucy’s Lost Loved Ones (the Chihuahua rescue folks) and DFW Cocker Spaniel Rescue, among many others.Our favorite is the apparently eternally non-profit OLD NEWSHOUNDS FUND -- no need for paperwork, just go ahead and mail currency to us. We accept only U.S. bills with pictures of President Grover Cleveland. I’m kidding. Don’t send me money -- I can’t handle the tax problems.CONTEMPLATION This is a Dallas Animal Services dog, an obvious EARHOUND who is awaiting a home while the City of Dallas Clock is ticking at the big shelter at I-30 and Westmoreland (See how to adopt at dallasanimalservices.org.) And watch the most magnificent video of an EARHOUND AT WORK HERE. Grayson got a lot of positive comments on the DAS page -- be interesting to see if any of them turn into an adoption for a dog who, online, is described as “Pit Bull Terrier • Young • Male • Large.” Not much of a sales description for people who’ve never been blessed by a Pittie. Surely someone will save that Earhound from the needle. And, you know, as I contemplate that, we should also mention that there was a time when this dog would have had LESS than a chance at DAS. Things change. Thankfully. Sometimes for the better -- against great odds.--- To comment, grip your ConstantlyStunnedMouse and click below. ---